Novel Atypical Pneumonia-Causing Virus

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of virology. The invention provides a new isolated essentially mammalian positive-sense single stranded RNA virus (EMCR-CoV) within the group of coronaviuses and components thereof.

1 . An isolated essentially mammalian positive-sense single stranded RNA virus (EMCR-CoV) comprising the sequence of  FIG. 1  or homologues thereof. 
     
     
         2 . An isolated positive-sense single stranded RNA virus (EMCR-CoV) belonging to the Coronaviruses and identifiable as phylogenetically corresponding thereto by determining a nucleic acid sequence of said virus and testing it in phylogenetic tree analyses wherein maximum likelihood trees are generated using 100 bootstraps and 3 jumbles and finding it to be more closely phylogenetically corresponding to a virus isolate having the sequences as depicted in  FIG. 1  than it is corresponding to a virus isolate of PEDV (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus), HCoV-229E (human coronavirus 229E), PRCoV (porcine respiratory coronavirus), TGEV (transmissible gastroenteritis virus), CaCoV (Canine coronavirus) and FeCoV (feline coronavirus). 
     
     
         3 . A virus according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a viral protein of said virus. 
     
     
         4 . A virus according to  claim 3  wherein said open reading frame is selected from the group of ORFs encoding the viral replicase, nuclear capsid protein, matrix protein and the spike protein. 
     
     
         5 . A virus according to  claim 1  isolatable from a human with atypical pneumonia. 
     
     
         6 . An isolated or recombinant nucleic acid or EMCR-CoV virus-specific functional fragment thereof obtainable from a virus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         8 . A host cell comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         9 . An isolated or recombinant proteinaceous molecule or EMCR-CoV virus-specific functional fragment thereof encoded by a nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         10 . An antigen comprising a proteinaceous molecule or EMCR-CoV virus-specific functional fragment thereof according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         11 . An antibody specifically directed against an antigen according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A method for identifying a viral isolate as an EMCR-CoV virus comprising reacting said viral isolate or a component thereof with an antibody according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         13 . A method for identifying a viral isolate as an EMCR-CoV virus comprising reacting said viral isolate or a component thereof with a nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for virologically diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection of a mammal comprising determining in a sample of said mammal the presence of a viral isolate or component thereof by reacting said sample with a nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         15 . A method for serologically diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection of a mammal comprising determining in a sample of said mammal the presence of an antibody specifically directed against an EMCR-CoV virus or component thereof by reacting said sample with a proteinaceous molecule or fragment thereof according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         16 . A diagnostic kit for diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection comprising a virus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . Use of a virus according to  claim 1  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         18 . Use according to  claim 17  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prevention of an EMCR-CoV virus infection. 
     
     
         19 . Use according to  claim 17  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prevention of atypical pneumonia. 
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a virus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A method for the treatment or prevention of an EMCR-CoV virus infection comprising providing an individual with a pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 20 . 
     
     
         22 . A method for the treatment or prevention of atypical pneumonia comprising providing an individual with a pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 20 . 
     
     
         23 . A viral replicase encoded by an RNA sequence comprising the indicated sequences, or homologues thereof as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     
     
         24 . A viral spike protein comprising the indicated amino acid sequence as depicted in  FIG. 1 , or a homologue thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A viral nuclear capsid protein encoded by an RNA sequence comprising the indicated sequence as depicted in  FIG. 1  or a homologue thereof. 
     
     
         26 . A viral nsp 3 or envelope protein encoded by an RNA sequence comprising the indicated sequence as depicted in  FIG. 1 , or a homologue thereof. 
     
     
         27 . A nucleic acid sequence which comprises one or more of the sequences coding for separate viral proteins as depicted in  FIG. 1  or a nucleic acid sequence which can hybridise with any of these sequences under stringent conditions. 
     
     
         28 . A host cell comprising a vector according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         29 . A method for virologically diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection of a mammal comprising determining in a sample of said mammal the presence of a viral isolate or component thereof by reacting said sample with an antibody according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         30 . A method for serologically diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection of a mammal comprising determining in a sample of said mammal the presence of an antibody specifically directed against an EMCR-CoV virus or component thereof by reacting said sample with an antigen according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         31 . A diagnostic kit for diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         32 . A diagnostic kit for diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection comprising a proteinaceous molecule or fragment thereof according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         33 . A diagnostic kit for diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection comprising an antigen according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         34 . A diagnostic kit for diagnosing an EMCR-CoV infection comprising an antibody according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         35 . Use of a nucleic acid according to  claim 6  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         36 . Use of a vector according to  claim 7  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         37 . Use of a host cell according to  claim 8  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         38 . Use of a proteinaceous molecule or fragment thereof according to  claim 9  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         39 . Use of an antigen according to  claim 10  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         40 . Use of an antibody according to  claim 11  for the production of a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         41 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         42 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a vector according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         43 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a host cell according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         44 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a proteinaceous molecule or fragment thereof according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         45 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antigen according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         46 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody according to  claim 11 .